Infeed mechanism for can machinery

ABSTRACT

An infeed mechanism for can machinery includes a frame mounting a spiral feed screw, a guide and a transfer wheel. All of these elements are quickly detachable so that the infeed mechanism can be quickly modified for use with different size cans. The frame of the infeed mechanism is pivotally mounted so that the transfer wheel can be moved toward or away from a can machine.

United States Patent 1 51 3,693,567 Dalman 14 1 Sept. 26, 1972 [54] INFEED MECHANISM FOR CAN 2,881,918 4/1959 Cunha ..198/22 MACHINERY 1,649,267 11/1927 Tev'ander ..113/1 15 [72] Inventor: Donald P. Dalman, Hastings, Mich. xg 'fii ifiz g Assignee: Gulf & Western Industrial Products 2,602,532 7/1952 Laxo............. ..::::::::::113/1 15 Company, Grand Rapids, Mich. 221 Filed: S 29 1970 Primary Examiner- Richard .l. Herbst [2]] A I No 76 578 Attorney-Meyer, Tilberry 81 Body [57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S.Cl ..ll3/115, 113/26 An infeed mechanism for can machinery includesa [51] lnLCl. 821d 43/16 frame mounting a Spiral feed screw, 3 guide and a [58] held of Search "113/7 11517 transferrwheel. All of these elements are quickly 113/28 198/2 detachable so that the infeed mechanism can be f d quickly modified for use with different size cans. The [56] Re erences frame of the infeed mechanism is pivotally mounted so UNITED STATES PATENTS that the transfer wheel can be moved toward or away from a can machine. 3,489,116 1/1970 Maiorino ..113/7 R 2,645,399 7/1953 Bozek et al. ..l98/22 8 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEPzs 1912 SHEET 1 [IF 4.

INVENTOR. DONALD P DALMAN Maya, 7% 3 Body ATTORNEYS PMENTEnsP26 I972 SHEET 2 BF 4 INVENTOR.

DONALD P DALMAN Mew, 7M 5 Body ATTORNEYS PATENTEBSEPZS m2 3.693.567

SHEET 3 OF 4 T INVENTOR.

DONALD P DALMAN Maya, 7M 5 ATTORNEYS INVENTOR.

DONALD F? DALMAN M WW, a 804 ATTORNEYS INFEED MECHANISM FOR CAN MACHINERY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application pertains to the art of infeed mechanisms and more particularly to an infeed mechanism for can machinery. The invention is particularly applicable to use with can machinery having a rotating turret to receive can bodies and perform operations thereon.

fKnown infeed mechanisms for can machinery include a frame for mounting aspiral feed screw, a can guide and a can transfer wheel. Prior devices of this type were not intended to be taken apart and were designed as if they would never be modified or taken apart except for repairs which would not often be required. Due to such design considerations, replacement of the spiral feed screw, can guide and can transfer wheel to adapt the infeed mechanism for different size cans is a very difficult task. Prior infeed mechanisms of this type have also been driven by chains and this leaves some slack in the mechanism so that accurate timing of the feed screw and can transfer wheel was difficult to maintain. When the infeed mechanism is changed for use with different size cans, it is also necessary to adjust the frame of the infeed mechanism so that the can transfer wheel will be in a correct position adjacent the turret of a can machine. Previous infeed mechanisms of the type described had frames which could not easily be adjusted. Due to the difficulty of adjusting these prior-devices, it often happened that proper adjustment was not accomplished and the device would malfunction rather frequently.

SUMMARY An infeed mechanism of the type described includes a frame on which a spiral feed screw is rotatably mounted. The spiral feed screw is driven at its lower end by a releasable coupling, and bracket means is releasably attached to theframe for rotatably supporting the upper end of the spiral feed screw. The spiral feed screw is removable from the frame simply by releasing the bracket means and pulling longitudinally of the feed screw.

In accordance with 'a preferred arrangement, can guide means is releasably attached to the frame adjacent the lower end portion of the feed screw for guiding cans away from the lower end portion of the feed screw. A can transfer starwheel is also rotatably mounted on the frame above the guide means for transferring can bodies from the feed screw along the guide means. The can transfer starwheel is also quickly detachable from the frame so that a different size starwheel may be attached when adapting the infeed mechanism for use with different size cans.

In accordance with the invention, the frame of the infeed mechanism has a pair of spaced-apart bores therein lying on a common axis for receiving a drive shaft on which the frame is pivotally mounted. Adjustment means is provided on the frameain spaced relationship to the bores for pivotally adjusting the frame means about the drive shaft in order to move the can transfer starwheel toward or away from the turret of a can machine.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the drive means for driving the spiral feed screw and can transfer starwheel includes a plurality of gears rotatably mounted on the frame and in direct engagement with one another so that no chains are required.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved infeed mechanism which is more economical to manufacture and assemble.

. It is also an object of the present invention to provide an improved infeed mechanism which is very simple to adjust.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved infeed mechanism which is very simple to adapt for use with differentsize cans.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide an improved infeed mechanism having a gear train drive for a spiral feed screw and can transfer starwheel rotatably mounted on the frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangements of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof.'

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the improved infeed mechanism of the present invention and with portions cut away for clarity of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a plan view looking in the direction of arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view looking in the direction of arrows 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevational view looking in the direction of arrows 4-4 of FIG. I; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevational view looking in the direction of arrows 55 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention only and not for purposes of limiting same, FIG. 1 shows frame A of a can machine having a rotatable head stock or turret D which includes spindles for receiving can bodies to perform any desirable operation thereon, such as leak testing, trimming or welding. The improved infeed mechanism of the present invention for feeding can bodies to turret B of the can machine is generally indicated by reference letter C. I

In accordance with a preferred arrangement, infeed mechanism C includes a one-piece cast frame D which has spaced-apart side leg portions 12 and 14 which are held in a spaced-apart relationship as by a plurality of spaced-apart cross members 16. Frame D includes an upper portion 18, a lower portion 20 and a laterally extending portion 22.

Laterally extending portion 22 of frame D releasably and rotatably supports a spiral feed screw E. Lower end portion 24 of feed screw E is provided with a centrally located splined bore 26 which releasably receives splined drive shaft 28 of right angle gear drive unit F. Upper end portion 30 of feed screw E has a cylindrical shape and is received in sleeve bearing 32 mounted in bracket 34. Bracket 34 is releasably held to frame 22 by bolt 36 which extends through a hole 38 in bracket 34 and threads into threaded bore 40 in laterally extending portion 22 of frame D. In order to replace feed screw E with a different size, or with a new feed screw in case of damage, bolt 36 is simply removed to free bracket 34 which can be pulled from upper end portion 30 of feed screw E. Feed screw E is then simply pulled longitudinally of its length to release the separable coupling defined by splined bore 26 and splined drive shaft 28. A conventional conveyor or gravity feed chute supplies can bodies G to infeed mechanism C.

A top can guide H is mounted on frame D above feed screw E. Top can guide H is attached to frame D by a pair of support members 42 and 44. Each support member 42 and 44 has a vertical slot formed therein and only one slot is shown at 46 for support member 42. Bolts 48 and 50 extend through the slots and thread into threaded bor'es provided in frame D. Slot 46 provides vertical adjustment of top can guide H so that it may be spaced varying distances above feed screw E. Support 44 includes a notched portion 52 receiving one end of cross member 54. The other end of cross member 54 is provided with a downwardly extending flange having a hole 56 therein for receiving the pointed end of a bullet catch member 58 which is biased into engagement with hole 56 by spring 60 located in bore 62 of support 42. A gripping portion 64 is threaded into bullet catch member 58 for pulling bullet catch member 58 out of engagement with hole 56. Cross member 54 has a brace member 68 welded to the bottom thereof and brace member 68 extends longitudinally above feed screw E. The other end portion of brace member 68 is provided with an upwardly extending flange 70 having a threaded bore 72 therein for receiving bolt 74 which extends through vertical slot 76 of support member 78. Support member 78 is mounted on shaft 80 by sleeve bearing 82. Shaft 80 is rotatably mounted in upper portion 18 of frame D. A guide member 86 extends longitudinally of feed screw E below brace member 68. Guide member 86 has a plurality of longitudinally spaced threaded studs 88 welded thereto and extending upwardly therefrom. Threaded studs 88 extend through suitable holes provided in brace member 68 and nuts 90 are threaded on studs 88 above brace member 68. Coil springs 92 surround studs 88 between brace member 68 and guide member 86 to bias guide member 86 downwardly away from brace member 68 toward feed screw E. It will be seen that can bodies G being fed along feed screw E during rotation thereof are in engagement with guide member 86 which supplies a yielding force to can bodies-G for biasing can bodies against feed screw E. An electrical switch 102 may be mounted on support member 104 of top can guide H. Switch 102 may have an actuating roller 106 engaging guide member 86 so that damaged or oversized cans will raise guide member 86 against the force of spring 92 and actuate switch 102 for deenergizing the drive motor for infeed mechanism C. A pair of side guide members 108 have outwardly extending rods 110 welded thereto for reception in bores 112 formed in laterally extending portion 22 of frame D. Side guides 108 are positioned on opposite sides of feed screw E and slightly thereabove so that the end portions of can bodies G are guided by side guide members 108. Side guide members 108 are curved arcuately upward beyond the bottom end portion 24 of feed screw E as shown at 114 in FIG. 1.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, can guide means J is mounted on frame D adjacent to bottom end portion 24 of feed screw E. Guide means J includes a pair of spaced-apart plate members 118 and 120 having arcuate upper edges as shown at 122 for side member 120 in FIG. 1. Each plate member 118 and 120 has suitable holes therethrough for receiving bolts 124 which are threaded into threaded bores formed in mounting member 126. Mounting member 126 is also provided with suitable holes for receiving bolts 128 which thread into suitable threaded bores in cross member 16 of frame D. Guide means J is located adjacent bottom end portion 24 of spiral feed screw E so that can bodies G moving off of bottom end portion 24 move onto arcuate edges 122 of guide means J. It will be noted that side guide members 108 have their arcuate portions 114 curved at the same curvature as edges 122, and arcuate portions 114 extend around two-thirds of the way along arcuate edges 122 from bottom end portion 24 of feed screw E. It will be recognized that guide means J is removable from frame D simply by removing bolts 128. A different size guide means may then be attached to frame D simply by utilizing bolts 128. A conventional arcuate guide member 129 is mounted on the frame of the can machine in radially spaced relationship to turret B. Can bodies G leaving the end of guide means J are guided by member 129 as the can bodies are picked up by the spindles on turret B.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a can body transfer means defined by starwheel K is provided for feeding can bodies from bottom end portion 24 of feed screw E along arcuate guide means J to the operating spindles of turret B on the can machine. Can transfer means K includes a plurality of equidistantly circumferentially spaced arcuate recesses 134. Can transfer means K is rotated in timed relationship with feed screw E so that a recess 134 will grab a can body G as it comes to bottom end portion 24 of feed screw E and guide a can body G along guide means J to be picked up by the operating spindles of turret B. Can transfer means K is a starwheel defined by a pair of spaced-apart circular disc plates 138'mounted on rotatable shaft 80. Each disc 138 includes first and second semi-circular portions 140 and 142. Semi-circular portion 140 has inner semi-circular peripheral portion 144 and outer semi-circular portion 146. Semi-circular portion 142 includes an inner semi-circular peripheral portion 148 and an outer semi-circular peripheral portion 150. Semi-circular portions 140 and 142 have arcuate slots 152 and 154 formed therein adjacent and radially spaced outward from inner periphery 144 and 148. Bolts extend through slots 152 and 154, and are threadedly received in suitable bores formed in mounting hubs 164. Elongated arcuate slots 152 and 154 allow semi-circular portions 140 and 142 of each disc 138 to be rotated so that arcuate recesses 134 will be in properly timed relationship to receive can bodies G when they come off from bottom end portion 24 of feed screw E. Each hub 164 includes a radially extending threaded bore receiving set screws 166 which engage shaft 80 to lock hubs 164 thereon so that rotation of shaft 80 will also rotate hubs 164 and discs 138. The adjusting arrangement provided by set screws 166 allows hubs 164 to be moved toward and away from one another along shaft 80 so that discs 138 may be positioned closer or further away from one another to transfer can bodies of various lengths from feed screw E. It will be recognized that changing can transfer means K simply requires removal of bolts 160 to place different size discs 138 thereon Providing discs having different size arcuate recesses 134 will adapt infeed mechanism C for use with different size can bodies G.

A main drive shaft 168,.which is rotatably driven in a conventional manner by the main drive motor of a can machine, is drivingly connected with infeed mechanism drive shaft 170 through a separable coupling M. Separable coupling M includes a pair of couplings 172 and 174 mounted respectively on shafts 168 and 170 and retained thereon by set screws 176 and 178 extending through threaded bores in couplings 172 and 174 into engagement with shafts 168 and 170. Couplings 172 and 174 are interconnected with one another by means of bolts 180 received in suitable circumferentially spaced threaded bores in couplings 172 and 174.

In accordance with a preferred arrangement, frame means D includes a pair of spaced-apart bores 184 and 186 which lie on a common axis for receiving infeed mechanism drive shaft 170. Sleeve bearings 188 and 190 are provided in bores 184 and 186 for rotatably mounting shaft 170. A sprocket N is mounted onshaft 170 and retained thereon by set screw 194. Sprocket N drives chain 196 which is in engagement with sprocket 202 of turret B. Retaining members 204 and 206 are provided on shaft 170, and locked thereon by. set screws 208 and 210 on opposite sides of bore 186. A closure member 214 is provided for cooperation with leg portion 12 of frame D to enclose a gear train for rotating spiral feed screw E and can transfer means'K. Closure member'214 is secured to leg 12 by suitable boltswhich are not shown. Closure-member 214 includes a sleeve bearing 216 through which shaft 170 extends. A spur gear 218 is splined on shaft 170 as at 220 and rotates therewith to drive spur gear 222 which is rotatably mounted on sleeve bearing 224 around shaft 226. Shaft 226 is fixed in suitable bores provided in leg 12 and closure member 214. Gear 222 is in turn meshed with gear 228 splined as at 230 on rotatable shaft 232 which is mounted in suitable sleeve bearings 234 and 236 received in suitable bores in leg 12 and closure member 214. Gear 236 is also keyed to shaft 232 by spline 230 for rotationtherewith, and'drivingly engages gear 238 mounted on shaft 240 which is fixed in suitable bores provided in leg 12 and closure member 214. A suitable sleeve bearing 242 rotatably mounts gear 238 on shaft 240. Gear 244 is keyed to gear 238 and rotates therewith for driving gear 246 mounted on shaft 248 extending through suitable bores in leg 12 and closure member 214. Gear 246 is drivingly engaged with gear 250 and both of these gears rotate on shaft 248 by means of sleeve bearing 252. Gear 250 drivingly engages gear 256 which is rotatably mounted on sleeve bearing 258 around shaft 260. Shaft 260 is fixed in suitable bores formed in leg 12 and closure member 214. Spur gear 256 drivingly engages spur gear 264 splined on shaft 80 as at 266. Shaft 80 is rotatably mounted in suitable bores formed in legs 12 and 14, and .in cover member 214, by sleeve bearings 270, 272 and 274.

Rotation of shaft 232 drives splined shaft 280 of right angle gear drive F through receiption of splined shaft 280 in splined hole 282 on shaft 232. Right angle gear drive F includes an idler splined shaft portion 286 received in a splined bore 288 of shaft 290 rotatably mounted in sleeve bearing 292 received through a suitable bore in leg 14.

In operation of the infeed mechanism, main drive shaft 168 rotates infeed mechanism drive shaft 170 through separable coupling M. Sprocket N then drives sprocket 202 of turret B on a can machine. Gear 218 is keyed on shaft 170 and rotates therewith to drive gear 222 which in turn is meshed with gear 228. Gear 228 is keyed on shaft 232 so that rotation of gear 228 rotates shaft 232 to drive right angle drive F by means of splined bore 282 and splined shaft 280. Output splined shaft 28 then rotates to drive spiral feed screw E. Gear 236 is also keyed on shaft 232 and rotates therewith to drive gear 238 which is rotatably mounted on shaft 240. Gear 242 rotates on shaft 240 with gear'238 to drive gear 246 which rotates on shaft 248. Gear 250 rotates with gear 246 on shaft 248 and drives gear 256 rotatably mounted on shaft 260. Gear 256 meshes with gear 264 splined on shaft so that shaft 80 rotates can transfer starwheel K. The arrangement described provides positive meshing between all drive gears and the same gear train is used for driving feed screw E and starwheel K. In normal operation, starwheel K rotates counter-clockwise as viewed in FIG. 1. Spiral feed screw E rotates from bottom to top in FIG. 1 and counter-clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3. It will be noted that frame means D is mounted for pivotal movement around infeed mechanism drive shaft 170.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, frame D has adjusting means P mounted thereon for pivotally moving frame D around shaft 170. Adjusting means P includes a pair of spaced-apart ears 302 having suitable lateral holes therethrough for receiving bolt 304. Bolt 304 is retained through the holes in ears 320 by means of nut 306. Threaded adjusting bolt 308 includes a fiat circular upper end portion 310 having a suitable hole therethrough. Flattened circular portion 310 of bolt 308 is positioned between spaced-apart ears 302 and bolt 304 is received through the hole in flattened circular end portion 310 so that bolt 308 may pivot around bolt 304. An angle member 314 is secured to frame A of a can machine as by bolts 316. Upper horizontal flange 318 of angle member 314 has an enlarged hole 320 therethrough and bolt 308 projects through hole 320. Nuts 322 and 324 are threadedly received on bolt 308 above and below upper horizontal flange 318 of angle member 314. Suitable washers 326 are received on bolt 308 beneath nuts 322 and 324. Washers 326 have a larger diameter than hole 320. It will be recognized that nut 324 may be loosened and nut 322 rotated to raise frame D so that frame D rotates about shaft and moves starwheel K closer to turret B. Likewise, nut 322 may be loosened so that frame D will pivot downwardly about shaft 170 and move starwheel K away from turret B.

With the arrangement described, it will be recognized that it is very simple to quickly replace any of spiral feed screw E, guide means .I or starwheel K. When a change for a different size can has been accomplished, a can body G may be held in a recess 134 of starwheel K in a position located around 15 below a horizontal line through the rotational axis of shaft 80. Adjusting means P may then be operated to accurately position can G to be picked up by turret B when infeed mechanism C is energized.

While a preferred embodiment has been described in the foregoing specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be recognized that obvi ous modifications and alterations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification. The present invention includes all such equivalent alterations and modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. A unitary infeed mechanism assembly for attachment toa can machine comprising; frame means, a spiral feed screw rotatably mounted on said frame means, said feed screw having upper and lower end portions and a longitudinal axis, bracket means releasably attached to said frame for rotatably supporting said upper end portion of said feed screw, drive means on said frame means for rotatably driving said feed screw, cooperable separable coupling means on said drive means and said lower end portion of said feed screw for separably coupling said feed screw to said drive means, said separable coupling means including interdigitating projection and recess means extending axially of said feed screw and being slidably engageable and disengageable by axial movement of said feed screw, said feed screw being removable from said frame means by releasing said bracket means and pulling longitudinally of said feed screw, and attachment means on said frame means for attaching said unitary infeed mechanism assembly to a can machine as a complete unit.

2. The device of Claim 1 and further including guide means releasably attached to said frame means adjacent said lower end portion of said feed screw for guiding cans away from said lower end portion of said feed screw.

3. The device of claim 2 and further including can transfer means rotatably mounted on said frame means for transferring cans from said feed screw along said guide means, said drive means being drivingly connected with said transfer means for rotatably driving said transfer means.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said drive means comprises a plurality of gears directly engaged with one another.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said transfer means comprises starwheel means including a pair of spacedapart discs, each of said discs including first and second semi-circular portions having inner and outer semi-circular peripheral portions, arcuate slot means in each of said semi-circular portions adjacent said inner semi-circular peripheral portions, hub means for each of said discs, and releasable securing means extending through said slots and attached to said hub means for releasably securing said discs to said hub means.

6. The device of claim 5 and further including shaft means for receiving said hub means, adjustable locking means on said hub means for adjustably locking said hub means in selective axial locations on said shaft means, said shaft means being rotatably mounted on said frame means and drivingly connected with said drive means.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said frame means has a pair of spaced-apart bores therein lying on a common axis for receiving a drive shaft on which said frame means is pivotally mountable, and adjustment means on said frame means spaced from said bores for pivotally adjusting said frame means about said bores.

8. The device of claim 4 wherein said frame means has a pair of spaced-apart bores therein lying on a common axis for receiving a drive shaft on which said frame means is pivotally mountable, and adjustment means on said frame means spaced from said bores for pivotally adjusting said frame means about said bores. 

1. A unitary infeed mechanism assembly for attachment to a can machine comprising; frame means, a spiral feed screw rotatably mounted on said frame means, said feed screw having upper and lower end portions and a longitudinal axis, bracket means releasably attached to said frame for rotatably supporting said upper end portion of said feed screw, drive means on said frame means for rotatably driving said feed screw, cooperable separable coupling means on said drive means and said lower end portion of said feed screw for separably coupling said feed screw to said drive means, said separable coupling means including interdigitating projection and recess means extending axially of said feed screw and being slidably engageable and disengageable by axial movement of said feed screw, said feed screw being removable from said frame means by releasing said bracket means and pulling longitudinally of said feed screw, and attachment means on said frame means for attaching said unitary infeed mechanism assembly to a can machine as a complete unit.
 2. The device of Claim 1 and further including guide means releasably attached to said frame means adjacent said lower end portion of said feed screw for guiding cans away from said lower end portion of said feed screw.
 3. The device of claim 2 and further including can transfer means rotatably mounted on said frame means for transferring cans from said feed screw along said guide means, said drive means being drivingly connected with said transfer means for rotatably driving said transfer means.
 4. The device of claim 3 wherein said drive means comprises a plurality of gears directly engaged with one another.
 5. The device of claim 3 wherein said transfer means comprises starwheel means including a pair of spaced-apart discs, each of said discs including first and second semi-circular portions having inner and outer semi-circular peripheral portions, arcuate slot means in each of said semi-circular portions adjacent said inner semi-circular peripheral portions, hub means for each of said discs, and releasable securing means extending through said slots and attached to said hub means for releasably securing said discs to said hub means.
 6. The device of claim 5 and further including shaft means for receiving said hub means, adjustable locking means on said hub means for adjustably locking said hub means in selective axial locations on said shaft means, said shaft means being rotatably mounted on said frame means and drivingly connected with said drive means.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein said frame means has a pair of spaced-apart bores therein lying on a common axis for receiving a drive shaft on which said frame means is pivotally mountable, and adjustment means on said frame means spaced from said bores for pivotally adjusting said frame means about said bores.
 8. The device of claim 4 wherein said frame means has a pair of spaced-apart bores therein lying on a common axis for receiving a drive shaft on which said frame means is pivotally mountable, and adjustment means on said frame means spaced from said bores for pivotally adjusting said frame means about said bores. 